Adua and Her Friends (Antonio Pietrangeli)

[pro-bassoonist]

Adua e le compagne Blu-ray REVIEW







A few quick comments here:

The film is a minor masterpiece from a director that has been criminally neglected in North America (very much like Dino Risi, Mauro Bolognini and a number of other Italian masters from the post-war era). Superb cinematography from Visconti's regular collaborator Armando Nannuzzi and yet another top soundtrack from the legendary Piero Piccioni I don't need to comment on the cast.

Technical presentation: The transfer could be better, but it is what it is. The technical presentation is miles ahead of that Cest La Vie delivered in the UK (non-anamorphic DVD transfer). It is also better than the anamorphic transfer on the R1 DVD (also struck from the same Cinema Forever restoration).

If interested in Italian Neorealism, find this disc on sale and buy it. The film will not disappoint you.

If you can play PAL DVDs, I would also recommend grabbing the Italian DVD release of Antonio Pietrangeli's La Visita/The Visitor, again with beautiful Sandra Milo. The English-friendly Italian release -- I am posting a picture below -- is anamorphic, but the U.S. release is not.

La Visita DVD





Have a great week everyone

Pro-B